Every week your audience can never tell which way the history of the neighbourhood will go. Fantastic, I will be forlorn when you get to the end and are "complete".
haha! (your opening neologism is like an E.E. Cummings poem on claustrophobia).
Most people were definitely NOT prepared for what happened. I'm more agoraphobic than claustrophobic, but I found the closeness of this particular environment rather intense.
my neighborhood !!! my little sister and her boyfriend are in town and I took em out for pints at the bohemian beer garden. Great article, can’t wait to make it to part 2 !!
Melbourne, Australia has the largest population of Greek immigrants outside of Greece. Melbourne is often referred to as the largest Greek city outside of Greece, with an estimated Greek population of around 150,000 to 200,000 people, which is significantly larger than the Greek population in New York.
I know that is true today, but, at least, according to what I’ve read, in the years after World War I, New York City had the world’s largest Greek immigrant population.
“For the life of me, I couldn’t fathom who would want to eat a handful of Cheez-Its while lying flat on their back in a sewage tunnel, but I appreciated the gesture.” So great!!!!!
Join their mailing list! It was great. If I do it again, I'm marking out my floor space ahead of time. Preferably with sandalwood. Wait, maybe that's what he was doing? Genius if true.
Until a recent trip into an MRI machine, I was convinced I had claustrophobia. But no! So the smelly tunnel with (beautiful) music is another, admittedly niche, slice of New York life I’d love to try. And who doesn’t love a neighbourhood with a knight appearing out of a wall?
So you’re saying you like confined spaces where your movement is completely restricted? You would love this excursion! And for the record, the essential oils were surprisingly the only odor I detected. Nary a whiff of raw sewage!
What haunting eerie music, perfect for your journey on the River Styx! Thanks for doing this for us as I am too faint hearted to go rafting in the dark through a sewer pipe! I actually liked the melodious instrumental part of the music, although the other parts were very . . . experimental.
Thank you again for a very well-written, entertaining, humorous piece. Thanks also for the picture of the End sign at the end.
Well had I known what I was getting into from the onset I may very well have turned it down myself! The recording doesn’t really convey the actual sound which was stunning. thanks Raquel!
"a more ambitious Astoria outing, you could visit the city’s oldest surviving beer garden, The Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden, followed by a trip to the Jim Henson exhibit at the American Museum of the Moving Image"
I mean... It's not like these are prohibitively far apart, we are New Yorkers after all, but these two locations aren't exactly adjacent.
Anyway I'm happy to report one of these photos is my corner, but won't be saying which. Thx for the footnote shout out, hope you actually visited the church and street (part 2 maybe?)
Hell Gate really deserved its name, a thousand ships - impressive. “we began to move not towards the river but backward, into a large sewer pipe”….I might have laughed out loud in anticipation and wonder about wth was going on. Kudus to you for being so calm LOL. Thanks for the Drain Brammage audio - I loved listening to it in the warmth of my office chair and a coffee in hand, while imagining all of you cramped on the rafter. Thank you also for sharing Chris Payne’s photos of the Steinway Factory- amazing.
Every week your audience can never tell which way the history of the neighbourhood will go. Fantastic, I will be forlorn when you get to the end and are "complete".
I can never tell either! If I ever make it to the end, I'll just start over again since everything will have changed. Thanks Irv!
I think you experienced the Willy Wonka boat ride IRL and I’m incredibly jealous.
It was truly magical, though if I had pulled an Augustus Gloop I would probably be in the ICU right now.
Nopenopenopenope. I could barely ready about you going into that pipe. It made me physically ill. Ugh. Claustrophobia is alive and well here.
haha! (your opening neologism is like an E.E. Cummings poem on claustrophobia).
Most people were definitely NOT prepared for what happened. I'm more agoraphobic than claustrophobic, but I found the closeness of this particular environment rather intense.
my neighborhood !!! my little sister and her boyfriend are in town and I took em out for pints at the bohemian beer garden. Great article, can’t wait to make it to part 2 !!
Thank you! And thanks for the reminder!
Melbourne, Australia has the largest population of Greek immigrants outside of Greece. Melbourne is often referred to as the largest Greek city outside of Greece, with an estimated Greek population of around 150,000 to 200,000 people, which is significantly larger than the Greek population in New York.
I know that is true today, but, at least, according to what I’ve read, in the years after World War I, New York City had the world’s largest Greek immigrant population.
“For the life of me, I couldn’t fathom who would want to eat a handful of Cheez-Its while lying flat on their back in a sewage tunnel, but I appreciated the gesture.” So great!!!!!
Wow what a crazy ass adventure. Like a wild dream! So jealous! So happy for you!!!
Join their mailing list! It was great. If I do it again, I'm marking out my floor space ahead of time. Preferably with sandalwood. Wait, maybe that's what he was doing? Genius if true.
Going to google that funeral price list for sure
If you have to ask...
Bread and Cheese Reef!
I will name my next dog “Astoria”.
I will name my next dog Bread and Cheese
Until a recent trip into an MRI machine, I was convinced I had claustrophobia. But no! So the smelly tunnel with (beautiful) music is another, admittedly niche, slice of New York life I’d love to try. And who doesn’t love a neighbourhood with a knight appearing out of a wall?
So you’re saying you like confined spaces where your movement is completely restricted? You would love this excursion! And for the record, the essential oils were surprisingly the only odor I detected. Nary a whiff of raw sewage!
What haunting eerie music, perfect for your journey on the River Styx! Thanks for doing this for us as I am too faint hearted to go rafting in the dark through a sewer pipe! I actually liked the melodious instrumental part of the music, although the other parts were very . . . experimental.
Thank you again for a very well-written, entertaining, humorous piece. Thanks also for the picture of the End sign at the end.
Well had I known what I was getting into from the onset I may very well have turned it down myself! The recording doesn’t really convey the actual sound which was stunning. thanks Raquel!
"a more ambitious Astoria outing, you could visit the city’s oldest surviving beer garden, The Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden, followed by a trip to the Jim Henson exhibit at the American Museum of the Moving Image"
I mean... It's not like these are prohibitively far apart, we are New Yorkers after all, but these two locations aren't exactly adjacent.
Anyway I'm happy to report one of these photos is my corner, but won't be saying which. Thx for the footnote shout out, hope you actually visited the church and street (part 2 maybe?)
Well I did say more ambitious..A 30 minute walk or ten minute bike road is nothing after a couple of Pilsners.
I passed the church but did not photograph it. This is why I needed to spread Astoria out!
I have a hunch I know which corner you live on, but your secret is safe.
Hell Gate really deserved its name, a thousand ships - impressive. “we began to move not towards the river but backward, into a large sewer pipe”….I might have laughed out loud in anticipation and wonder about wth was going on. Kudus to you for being so calm LOL. Thanks for the Drain Brammage audio - I loved listening to it in the warmth of my office chair and a coffee in hand, while imagining all of you cramped on the rafter. Thank you also for sharing Chris Payne’s photos of the Steinway Factory- amazing.
Who said I was calm??!
Not to mention The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss! I need to go visit for Part II